Stay in touch


Friday, September 1, 2017

Mr. Bottle Bones

 Make Mr. Bottle Bones made from recycled water bottles for Halloween
Mr. Bottle Bones has been hanging around our house on Halloween for quite a few years. He's eco friendly and easy to make using recycled water bottles. So start saving those gallon size water or clean milk jugs! 
Materials needed
• 8 or 9 clean, plastic gallon jugs • String • Scissors • Craft knife 
• Glue gun • One-hole punch

Step 1. To make the head, turn water jug upside down. In the corner, opposite the handle, cut out two circles for the eyes, and a large, smiling mouth, centered under two eye holes. Make two small slits in the top of the head and tie a loop of string through them for hanging the finished skeleton. 
Step 2. For the chest, use another jug right side up. Cut a vertical slit down the center directly opposite the handle. Cut and trim away plastic to make the rib cage. Glue the head and chest together at the "neck" by connecting the spouts of the two jugs with a thick band of hot glue. Hold the jugs together for a few minutes until the glue cools. 
Step 3. To form shoulders, cut off two jug handles from the additional jugs, (leaving a small collar on each of the ends) and attach collar ends to the chest section with hot glue. Punch a hole at one end of each shoulder. 
Step 4. For hips, cut all the way around another jug, about 4 1/2 inches up from the bottom. Take this bottom piece and trim away a small smile shape from each side to make a four- cornered shape. Punch holes in two opposite corners. 
Step 5. Make a waist by cutting out two spouts, leaving a 1/2-inch collar on each. Glue the spouts together and let dry. Then, hot-glue the collars to the bottom of the chest and the top of the hip section.
Step 6. For arms and legs, cut eight long bone shapes from the corner or flat sections of remaining jugs (cut additional slits in the center of the eight strips, to make the bones even more realistic). Punch a hole through the ends of all eight bones. Use string to tie two arm sections to each shoulder and two leg sections to each hip. 
Step 7. Let kids trace their hands and feet onto the side of a jug, then cut out the shapes. Punch holes in the hands and feet, and tie them onto the arms and legs.page1image20848
 Inspiration for this craft came from now crafts courtesy of Disney

Join the party!


  1. Oh my God this is so cute!!!!

  2. How fun! I had one a few years ago but had to find him a new family when we moved. Have a lovely weekend.

    Crafty Journal

  3. How fun. I have a craft book from FamilyFun from yearssss ago (like when I was in middle school) and I remember seeing a similar craft. I think I may have to save my milk jugs and do this with the kids this year. Yours turned out great!

  4. Very cute idea! And a great way to reuse those jugs! :)

    1. Thank you. We have so many empty water bottles. Even with a filter our tap water is spooky:)

  5. So cute, and fun! thanks for sharing it at the Pinworthy Project Party!

  6. Oh, wow what a fun idea! Did you paint the jugs? Mr. Bones looks so cute!

    1. Thanks Annie. No paint, the water jugs just look like that, frosted:)

  7. loved your bones man, how creative and what a fun project, I can just imagine the fun in making him, he is too sweet...Phyllis

  8. I keep saying I need to make one of these. :)

    1. Our water is awful! We have a filter and buy water:( That's why I had all the empty bottles! This craft has been around my house since the 90's:) I just glue him back together when he comes apart.